Over half of Russians approve of arrests of government officials suspected of corruption – poll

MOSCOW. Jan 18 (Interfax) – Most Russians know about and approve of the arrests of high-ranking officials suspected of bribery, embezzlement, and abuse of office, the VTsIOM public opinion service reported based on findings of a public opinion poll of 1,600 respondents conducted in 130 populated areas in 46 regions of Russia on December 17-18.

As many as 55% of Russians approve of the arrest of former governors Vyacheslav Gaizer, 60% Nikita Belykh, and 62% Alexander Khoroshavin, 66% former Interior Ministry official Col. Dmitry Zakharchenko, and 67% former Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev, the poll showed.

The numbers of those disapproving of this vary from 2% to 4%.

Asked what punishment they would see as appropriate for people giving bribes, 38% named a fine exceeding the size of the bribe, 28% a ban on occupying governing positions, 20% imprisonment, 19% confiscation of property, and 18% administrative punishment.

As to organizations found guilty of corruption (bribery), 37% of those polled believe their activities should be subjected to close scrutiny, 34% favored a fine, 29% a ban on fulfilling government contracts, and 20% the imprisonment of the organization head.